The 'death and destruction' that wasn't: Trump's calls for unrest and mass protests fell flat ahead of his arraignment
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
- Donald Trump's calls for mass protests fell flat ahead of his NYC arraignment on Tuesday.
- By noon, more than 100 Trump backers had descended upon a park outside a Manhattan courthouse.
- Trump had threatened "potential death & destruction" if charges were brought.
Donald Trump's calls for mass protests fell flat ahead of his New York City arraignment on Tuesday as supporters of the former president were outnumbered by both reporters and counter-protesters.
By noon, more than 100 backers of the indicted ex-president had descended upon a park outside of the lower Manhattan courthouse where Trump will be arraigned.
Still, it was a raucous scene as Trump supporters faced off with counter-protesters holding signs with slogans like "lock him up" at Collect Pond Park, where hordes of journalists were also gathered.
"He needs to get locked up. He's not above anyone," said Anastasia Simone, one of approximately 200 anti-Trump demonstrators at the park.
—Jacob Shamsian ⚖️ (@JayShams) April 4, 2023
There were an estimated three to five reporters for every pro-Trump supporter outside the courthouse. Overall, the pro-Trump crowd paled in comparison to the demonstrations and massive protests Trump called for before he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week.
—Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) April 4, 2023
After falsely predicting the day of his arrest, Trump lashed out on Truth Social, calling for supporters to "protest" and "take our nation back."
Trump even mocked calls for his backers to remain peaceful in the face of an indictment and threatened that there would be "potential death & destruction" if charges were brought against him.
—Jacob Shamsian ⚖️ (@JayShams) April 4, 2023
While raging about his indictment on Truth Social, Trump falsely claimed that the US "IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION" and accused Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg of bringing a politically motivated prosecution.
Trump is the first current or former US president to face criminal charges. He was indicted on March 30 in connection to a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Michael Cohen, Trump's former fixer and lawyer, pleaded guilty to several felonies related to the payment, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations. He said that he paid Daniels during the 2016 election at Trump's direction in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump.
The former president and his lawyers have denied knowledge of the payment and have attacked Cohen's credibility as a witness.
Ahead of Trump's arraignment Tuesday, serial liar and GOP Rep. George Santos of New York briefly stopped by the park to voice his support for Trump.
Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also delivered a roughly 10-minute-long speech to a swarm of press and Trump backers at a park rally.
"The government has been weaponized against [Trump]," Greene said as she used a megaphone. "I am here to protest, use my voice and take a stand. Every American should take a stand."
As Greene left the park after the brief speech, people could be heard shouting for her to "get the fuck out of my city!"